Radio tube socket



Jan. 19, 1937. A. w. FRANKLIN RADIO TUBE SOCKET Filed Sept. 28, 1955 INVENTO'R. A/berf W. Frank! n Patented Jan. 19, 1937 RADIO TUBE SOCKET Albert W. Franklin, New York, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Edwin R. Berger, West Long Branch, N. J., and Jacob Poster, Brightwatcrs,

Application September 28, 1935, Serial No. 42,563

2 Claims.

This invention involves improvements in radio tube sockets.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a novel combination of chassis or support with a radio tube socket. v

Another object of thisinvention is to provide in such a combination locking means for preventing easy removal of the socket from the chassis or support while permitting quick attachment of the socket to the support.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved, simplified radio tube socket of a minimum of parts assembled together and secured to provide a rugged, small socket relatively inexpensive to manufacture and adapted to rapid production in large quantities.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new form of terminal pin receptacle for radio sockets and similar devices.

These and many other objects, as will appear from the following disclosure, are secured by means of this invention.

This invention resides substantially in the combination, construction, arrangement, and relative location of parts, as'set forth in the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a radio tube socket in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 is a bottom plan view thereof;

Figure 3. is a side elevational view thereof;

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the socket with some parts broken away and applied to a chassis or support showing the locking means;

Figure 5. is a view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing the chassis in cross section and the socket in elevation with the lower portions of the terminal pin receptacles broken away;

Figure 6 is a bottom plan view showing the terminal pin receptacles in cross section; and

Figure '7 is a perspective view of one of the terminal pin receptacles.

The socket of this invention includes in it novelty a particular form of terminal pin receptacle. This is shown as comprising a main portion I of generally oval cross sectional shape made by forming a flat piece of metal into that form. This main body portion l of the receptacle is split along one side, as is clear from Figure 7, to form a resilient chamber into which the terminal pin of the radio socket may be forced. On one end v oi the central portion l of the receptacle are the integral right angle ears or tabs 2 and 3. On the other end is the integral tab or car 4 which provides the lug or extension to which the circuit wire is attached by soldering. As shown in Figure 7, the portion 5 of the tab 4 adjacent the portion 1 is bent over so as to close the open end of the portion I, and during the bending operation is provided with a rib or boss 6 which strengthens the entire tab.

With this arrangement when the circuit wire is soldered to the tab 4 the solder which rims down, as commonly occurs during this operation, is prevented from entering the portion I of the socket or receptacle. The usual type of prong receiving receptacles are so constructed that this solder may run down into the socket portion, interfering with the entry of the terminal pin of the electric device.

Another important feature of this construction is the relative arrangement of the tabs 2 and 3 with respect to the tab 4. This will become more apparent from a later description. It is to be noted, however, that the tabs 3 are adjacent the longitudinal slit of the socket portion while the tab 2 is diametrically opposite thereto. The socket itself consists of a substantially circular disc 1 of thin insulating material having a pair of diametrically opposed projections or lugs I. The disc is provided with a series of oval shaped openings 8, the number corresponding to the number of prong receiving receptacles to be mounted therein. The size of these holes with respect to the outside diameter of the receptacles is such as to form a tight sliding fit. Tlzc terminal receiving receptacles are slipped into these openings from the tab 4 end and are applied so that the tabs 4 project outwardly, as is clear from Figures 2 and 3. The result is that the small tabs 3 face radially outwardly and the tabs 2 face radially inwardly. Heretofore it has been common practice to face the tabs 3 inwardly, bringing them very close together, as will be apparent upon consideration. By the arrangement here disclosed they are placed at a maximum distance permitting first of the use of a maximum number of prong receiving receptacles on a given radius, and secondly providing a maximum separation between these tabs. The result is that the leakage at radio frequencies between them is materially reduced. For a given spacing the leakage is reduced, or to look at it another way, the terminal receiving receptacles can be placed closer together without prohibitive leakage.

Superimposed directly upon the tabs 2 and 3 which lie on the upper surface of the plate 'I is a, round disc ill of insulating material which has a plurality of holes 10', one for each of the holes 8 positioned so as'to align therewith. The holes terminal prong of the electrical device to be mounted in the socket, such as a radio vacuum tube. The diameter of the disc "I is exactly the same as the diameter of the disc I. The disc ID, as is clear from Figure 4, rests directly against the tabs 2 and 3. Superimposed upon the disc I is a disc II which likewise has a series of circular holes i i' therein for alignment with the holes I0 and 8. The radius of the disc II- is equal to the radius of the disc I at the projections 1'. This is clear from the different views. These discs are then permanently fastened together by means of the eyelets l5 which pass through all of them and are beaded over at the ends. This connects all of the parts into a rigid unitary structure. All the discs have a central opening 9 with an intercepting notch 9' to adapt the socket for use with that type of tube which has a central lug on its socket for insuring the insertion of the tube in the socket in the right position. Of course, this feature is not necessary for sockets employing that device not having the central lug or projection on the socket.

A portion of a chassis or support is illustrated at 20. It is provided with an opening 2i of circular form of a diameter equal to or just slightly larger than the diameter of the discs I and Ill. The opening is'provided with notches 22 diametrically arranged and of a size so that the extensions 1 may just pass therethrough. Adjacent the opening are a pair of lugs 23 and 24 which are formed by an L-shaped slit in the material of the chassis, which is usually of metal, which are slightly sprung downwardly to provide resilient projecting lugs. clear from Figure 5. The socket is applied to the chassis by inserting it with its prong receiving receptacles passing first through the hole 2| in the chassis. The socket is aligned so that the lugs I pass through the notches 22. The disc H being of larger diameter than the opening 21 prevents the socket from passing entirely through the support. The disc I I just rests on the top of the support as is clear from Figure 5. Disc Hi just fits into opening 2| and is preferably of a thickness equal to that of the thickness of the support. The socket is then twisted until the extensions 1 fall behind the lugs 23 and 24, preventing iurther rotation thereof. At this time the extensions 1 overlie the chassis at the open- 'ing 2| so that the socket is securely locked in place. It is diificult to remove it, but it can be removed by pressing lugs 23 and 24 upwardly, so

This is particularly that the extension I may move back thereover into alignment with the notches 22. It will be noted that the lugs 23 and 24 point towards each other, preventing rotation of the socket in either direction after it has fallen behind them. These lugs are resilient so that the extension I may pass thereover when the socket is turned with sufficient force. The space between the overhanging edge of the disc I I and the extensions 1' is approximately equal to the thickness of the material of the chassis so that the socket may not move longitudinally in the opening. In other words, the socket frictionally binds the chassis so that it is held firmly in place. This is particularly true at the points where the eyelets firmly draw the parts together.

From the above description it will be apparent that this invention resides in certain features of construction which may be embodied in other physical forms without departure from the scope thereof. I do not therefore desire to be strictly limited to the disclosure as given for purposes of illustration, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

What I seek to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A radio socket of the type described comprising a supporting base having a plurality of longitudinally split tubular contacts mounted thereon about the center of the supporting base, each contact having a pair of ears at the split side engaging the support and a supporting ear opposite said pair of cars engaging the support, the single ears extending radially inward, and the pairs of cars extending radially outward whereby for a given size of said ears increased spacing between the ears of adjacent contact is effected.

2. A radio socket of the type described comprising a supporting base having a plurality of longitudinally split tubular contacts mounted thereon about the center of the supporting base, each contact having a pair of ears at the split side engaging the support, a supporting ear opposite said pairs of ears engaging the support, the single ears extending radially inward, and the pairs of ears extending radially outward whereby for a given size of said ears increased spacing between the ears of adjacent contact is effected and each contact having an integral connector lug bent over the end of the tubular contact whereby said lugs project radially outward about the center of the supporting base.

ALBERT W. FRANKLHI. 

